Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 24
Prāyaścitta — Definitions of Killing, Brahmahatyā, and Graded Expiations
सुरापाणापनुत्यर्थं बालवामा जटी ध्वजी अज्ञानात् प्राश्य विण्मूत्रं सुरासंस्पृष्टमेव च
surāpāṇāpanutyarthaṃ bālavāmā jaṭī dhvajī ajñānāt prāśya viṇmūtraṃ surāsaṃspṛṣṭameva ca
সুৰাপানৰ পাপ নাশৰ বাবে বালব্ৰতী হৈ, বাম-নিয়ম মানি, জটা ধৰি ধ্বজ বহন কৰি প্ৰায়শ্চিত্ত কৰিব লাগে; আৰু অজ্ঞতাবশত সুৰাসংস্পৃষ্ট বিষ্ঠা-মূত্র গ্ৰহণ কৰিলেও এই বিধি প্ৰযোজ্য।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in prāyaścitta-vidhi)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Specify an expiatory vow-form (vrata) to remove the sin of liquor-drinking, including ascetic markers (matted hair, banner) and prescribed comportment; extends to accidental ingestion of impure substances contaminated by liquor.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Surāpāna-prāyaścitta Vrata (Bālavrata with Jaṭā and Dhvaja)","lookup_keywords":["surāpāna-prāyaścitta","bālavrata","jaṭā","dhvaja","aśauca"],"quick_summary":"The verse prescribes a distinctive penitential observance for liquor-drinking, with ascetic insignia and strictness, and clarifies that even inadvertent consumption of impurity tainted by liquor requires expiation."}
Concept: Purity is maintained not only by intention but also by careful avoidance of contaminating contact; when breached, visible austerity restores moral order.
Application: Adopt a clearly defined vow with external signs to enforce accountability and prevent recurrence; treat contamination (saṃsparśa) as ethically consequential.
Khanda Section: Prāyaścitta & Śauca (Purification rites; expiation for impurity and intoxicants)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: jugupsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent ascetic adopts childlike simplicity, with matted hair and a small banner-staff, moving with prescribed orientation and performing expiation after liquor-related impurity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, austere figure with jaṭā and dhvaja, minimal ornaments, strong outline, subdued tones, emphasis on śuddhi and restraint","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, solitary penitent with jaṭā and banner, gold detailing on the dhvaja finial, solemn posture, sparse background to stress vow","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction of vrata insignia: jaṭā hairstyle, dhvaja staff, prescribed conduct; clean composition with explanatory captions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, wandering ascetic with banner in a village edge scene, careful narrative detail showing the context of accidental contamination and subsequent penance"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"austere","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुरापाणापनुत्यर्थम् = सुरा-पान-अपनुत्य-अर्थम् (purpose compound). सुरासंस्पृष्टमेव = सुरासंस्पृष्टम् + एव.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: prāyaścitta cluster on surā and śuddhi (same adhyāya)
FAQs
It specifies an expiatory discipline (prāyaścitta) to remove the fault of surā-drinking, extending the rule to cases of accidental ingestion of substances contaminated by liquor.
It exemplifies the text’s dharma-śāstra-like coverage of practical ritual law—detailing purity, contamination, and graded expiations alongside other domains (rituals, polity, medicine, arts).
It frames intoxication-related impurity as a karmically weighty fault and teaches that intentional vs. unintentional acts matter, with prescribed austerity restoring ritual and moral purity.